FM 100-5 Operations - Survival Ebooks Military Manuals Survival ...

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMOPERATIONSterrain deep in the enemy’s rear and along its LOCsby maneuvering around the enemy. Deep fires becomerelatively more important in this type of maneuverto protect the maneuver force and attack the enemy,especially when unaccompaned by artillery. Thisthreat forces the enemy to abandon his prepared defenseand attack in an undesirable direction and at atime of his opponent’s choice. The X Corps and USMCamphibious assault at Inchon was a classic turningmovement that achieved strategic and operational effects.INFILTRATIONInfiltration uses covert movement of forcesthrough enemy lines to attack positions in the enemyrear. Light infantry units are especially valuable forinfiltration operations. Commanders may use infiltrationto attack lightly defended positions or strongerpositions from flank and rear, to secure key terrain insupport of the main effort, or to disrupt enemy rearoperations. Commanders are careful to avoid alertingthe enemy as to their intentions by the position of maneuverand artillery units and the effects of fires insupport of the infiltration. Commanders normally useinfiltration in conjunction with other forms of maneuver.PENETRATIONCommanders use penetration when enemy flanksare not assailable. They mass sufficient combat powerat the point of penetration to overwhelm the enemyand gain the advantage (see Figure 7-2). They masseffects from fires of all available means at the point ofpenetration to make the breach, hold open the shoulder,and cripple any enemy counterattacks. Other attackingforces minimize losses by employing feintsand demonstrations, fixing the defender with the intensityof their fires along the front, or catching thedefender by surprise with rapid and violent execution.Because penetration is an attack into the strengthof the defense, it could be costly in friendly casualties.Penetration may be necessary to rupture enemydefenses on a narrow front to create assailable flanksand access to the enemy’s rear. Commanders may attemptpenetration on one or several axes, dependingon the forces available. Commanders carefully weighthe advantage of attacks on multiple axes to avoidundue costs and casualties. Multiple penetrations maybe desirable if they force the enemy to disperse hisfires and consider multiple threats before committinghis reserves.FRONTAL ATTACKThe frontal attack strikes the enemy across a widefront and over the most direct approaches. It is normallyused when commanders possess overwhelmingcombat power and the enemy is at a clear disadvantage.Commanders mass the effects of direct and indirectfires on enemy positions, shifting indirect andaerial fires just before the assault.For deliberate attacks, the frontal attack may bethe most costly form of maneuver since it exposes theattacker to the concentrated fires of the defender whilelimiting the effectiveness of the attacker’s own fires.As the most direct form of maneuver, however, thefrontal attack is useful for overwhelming light defenses,covering forces, or disorganized enemy forces. It isoften the best form of maneuver for a hasty attack ormeeting engagement in which speed and simplicityare paramount to maintaining battle tempo and, ultimately,the initiative. The frontal attack is an appropriateform of maneuver to be used by a fixing forceas a supporting attack to an envelopment. The frontalattack may also be used during exploitation or pursuitand by subordinate elements of a large formation conductingan envelopment or penetration.OPERATIONS IN DEPTHAs discussed in Chapter 6, tactical commanders,as well as operational commanders, conduct offensiveoperations simultaneously throughout the depth of thebattlefield. The payoff is high-tempo operations thatpresent the enemy with one continuous operation.Commanding forces in depth requires an understandingof the relationship of friendly forces to enemyforces in time, space, and purpose. Commanders determinethe arrangement of battlefield activities withinthe width, depth, and height of the battlefield over time(see Figures 7-1, 7-2, and 7-3).Three closely related activities occur in well-synchronizedoperations: deep, close, and rear operations.Commanders may pursue separate battle objectives byusing deep and close combat operations, either ofwhich may be the main effort. In addition, during theconduct of operations, the lines of distinction amongthese three activities tend to blur. As a result, commandersneed to teach their staffs and subordinate commandershow to achieve the desired effects.7-12